It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Hantab (may Allah be pleased with him); he said: I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: "These two are (to me just like) the hearing and the sight." This hadith is sahih (authentic) in its chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that when a man asked Makhul about this saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "Then indeed Allah is his Protector, and Jibril, and the righteous among the believers" [Surah al-Tahrim: 4] , he said: Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to me that, as Allah Almighty said, Allah is his Protector, and Jibril as well; and by "the righteous among the believers" is meant Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). This hadith is sahih (authentic) in its chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If you make Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) your leader, you will find him detached from this world and eager for the Hereafter. If you make Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) your leader, you will find him strong and trustworthy, one who will not care about the blame of any blamer in the matter of Allah. And if you make Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) your leader, you will find him rightly guided and a guide to others, who will lead you along the (right) path." This hadith is sahih (authentic) in its chain of narration, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it. It has a supporting narration (shahid): the hadith of Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him); he said: The people said: "O Messenger of Allah, if only you would appoint a successor (khalifah) over us." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I appoint a successor over you and you disobey him, punishment will descend." The people said: "What if you were to appoint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) as successor?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I appoint him as your successor, you will find him strong in the matter of Allah and physically frail." The people said: "What if you were to appoint Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) as successor?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You will not do so; but if you do make him successor, you will find him rightly guided and a guide to others, who will lead you along the Straight Path." This Uthman bin Umayr is Abu al-Yaqzan.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning this saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "And consult them in the matter" [Surah Al Imran: 159] ; he said: (What is meant is) Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Has any of you seen a dream?" A man said: "I saw as if a balance came down from the sky. You and Abu Bakr were weighed, and your side outweighed Abu Bakr. Then Abu Bakr and Umar were weighed, and Abu Bakr's side outweighed. Then Umar and Uthman were weighed, and Umar's side outweighed. Then that balance was raised up." (On hearing this) we saw signs of displeasure on the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it. Its supporting narration (shahid) is the narration of Sa'id bin Jumhan, which he transmitted from Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him); he said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed the Fajr prayer, he would ask: "Has any of you seen a dream last night?" One day he (peace and blessings be upon him) led the Fajr prayer, then turned to his Companions and asked: "Which of you has seen a dream?" A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, I saw as if a balance was lowered from the sky. You were placed in one pan and Abu Bakr in the other pan, and your side outweighed Abu Bakr. Then you were lifted away and Abu Bakr remained in his place. Then Umar bin al-Khattab was brought and placed in the other pan, and Abu Bakr's side outweighed Umar. Then Abu Bakr was lifted away and Umar remained in his place. Then Uthman bin Affan was brought and placed in the other pan, and Umar's side outweighed Uthman. Then both of them were lifted away, and the balance was lifted away too." The narrator said: (On hearing this) the colour of the blessed face of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) changed. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The caliphate of prophethood will last thirty years; after that there will be kingship." Sa'id bin Jumhan said: Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: Count (these years): two years of Abu Bakr, ten years of Umar, twelve years of Uthman and six years of Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all). This dream has also been narrated with an authentic chain as a marfu' report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Last night a righteous man was shown in a dream that Abu Bakr was joined to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Umar was joined to Abu Bakr, and Uthman was joined to Umar." Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When we got up from the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we said: The "righteous man" is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself, and the mention of their being joined to one another indicates that they will be the governors of this matter (the caliphate) with which Allah sent His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The last part of this hadith has an authentic chain from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The caliphate will be in Madinah, and kingship will be in Sham (Syria)."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May Allah Almighty have mercy on Abu Bakr. He gave me his daughter in marriage and carried me to the abode of emigration (Madinah)." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.